508 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Johnston Paton, Kilmarnock ; T. L. Patterson, Hardengreen, 

 Dalkeith; Geo. Paxton, Richardland, Kilmarnock; James Pear- 

 son, Sessay, Thirsk, Yorks ; Alex. Pitcaithley, Scone, Perth ; 

 George Porteous, Poltonhall, Lasswade ; W. M. Price, Minto, 

 Hawick ; A. B. Robertson, The Dean, Kilmarnock ; Donald 

 Robertson, Dunrobin, Golspie ; Alex. Robson, The Kennels, 

 Culzean ; A. D. Richardson, Edinburgh ; J. Scott, Forester, 

 Dumfries House ; Thos. Sharpe, Monreith, Wigtownshire ; 

 Thomas Smith, The Castle, Maybole; Adam Spiers, Edinburgh; 

 W. J. Stalker, Nairn; James Stoddart, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian; 

 Robert Storie, Dalkeith, Midlothian ; Edward P. Tennant, yr. 

 of The Glen; D. Thomson, Oakley, Dunfermline; D. W. Thom- 

 son, Edinburgh ; R. B. P. Wallace, Leith ; Eugene Wason of 

 Blair, M.P. ; John Watson, Edinburgh; Jas. Wm. Watt, Carlisle; 

 Wm. White, Edgefield, Loanhead; J. Whytock, The Gardens, 

 Dalkeith ; Gilbert Wilson, Dailly, Ayrshire ; Wm. G. Wilson, 

 Overseer, Dalquharran ; Edward Wiseman, Elgin. A number 

 of members' guests joined the Excursion. 



On arriving at Ayr, the party betook themselves to their 

 several hotels. Later in the evening they all dined together 

 in the "Ayr Arms" — Mr D. P. Laird, of the Murrayfield Nur- 

 series, presiding. 



Tuesday, 6th August. 



Despite the very unpromising appearance of the weather, and 

 the long drive that had been mapped out for the day's pro- 

 gramme, the party mustered in full force, under the direction of 

 Mr Laird. Lord Mansfield, the president of the Society, and 

 Mr Munro Ferguson of Novar, the hon. secretary, were there, 

 as usual, to enjoy the outing, and testify by their presence to the 

 deep and abiding interest which they take in the work of the 

 Society. 



After visiting the birthplace of Burns, and the monument 

 erected to his memory on the banks of the Doon, the party pro- 

 ceeded to Auchendrane, the residential estate of Miss Cathcart. 

 As they passed down the avenue to the mansion-house, they saw 

 a number of silver firs, planted in 1707, to commemorate the union 

 of Scotland with England, by Mr John Muir, the first member 

 for the Ayr Burghs in the British Parliament. The avenue 

 is known to this day as the Union Avenue. Some of these silver 

 firs are of great size, the largest one now girthing 15 feet 9 inches, 



